Hundreds of athletes and their families have kicked off the competition in the Historic Center, marking the start of an event that gathers prominent national and international youth academies. The tournament aims to establish itself as Spain's premier event in this sport.
The Councillor for Sports, Lola López, alongside the president of the Inter JP Financial F.S. club, José Manuel Saorín, presided over the welcome ceremony. The event served to greet teams arriving from various parts of Spain and Europe.
López emphasized the crucial support of families and encouraged players to enjoy the competition, learn values like teamwork, and engage with participants from different regions. She thanked Inter Fútbol Sala for their continued commitment to Alcalá de Henares as the tournament's host city and invited families to explore the city's cultural, historical, and gastronomic richness.
Over three intense days, nearly 50 matches will be played across the Alevín, Infantil, and Cadete categories. The games will take place in three key sports facilities: the Demetrio Lozano Pavilion, the Espartales Pavilion, and the University of Alcalá Pavilion.
Approximately 400 athletes are expected to participate, staying in the city's hotels and residences, along with about 1,000 accompanying individuals. This brings the total visitor count to 1,200, generating a significant economic and tourism impact for Alcalá de Henares.
This fifth edition solidifies the tournament as a benchmark in youth futsal, having hosted over 3,000 participants and internationally renowned clubs such as FC Barcelona, ElPozo Murcia, Sporting Clube de Portugal, and Inter. Two former tournament players have gone on to debut in the top national futsal league.
The Academia Inter, responsible for the organization, is a training project with 260 male and female players from pre-benjamín to the reserve team, operating entirely within Alcalá de Henares. The academy comprises 18 teams competing in various categories.
